Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has revealed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is considering fielding either former President Goodluck Jonathan or former Labour Party (LP) presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, as its presidential candidate in 2027.
Mohammed made this disclosure on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television program, Politics Today.
“If he decides to come to a better platform where there is no encumbrance, he would be given an opportunity,” the governor said.
On whether the PDP is presently courting or talking to Obi as regards contesting for the 2027 presidential election under their platform, Mohammed said: “People have seen him with me several times in Bauchi, he is my brother, my friend and of course, he is also one of the most celebrated politicians.
“However, Obi has been seen with the opposition coalition (referring to the African Democratic Congress – ADC) but I must tell you that the PDP has not been sleeping, only that we don’t make noise.”
Mohammed added that he has already discussed with Obi about returning to the PDP but the decision remains with the former Governor of Anambra State to take.
He explained that celebrated politicians are welcome if they decide to return to the PDP, while revealing that he has also spoken to former President Jonathan.
“I was the first person to talk to him and I told him that if he decides to contest for the 2027 presidential election, I will not run,” Mohammed said.
“We are free to look for people who will come and add value and present them as our presidential candidates if they so wish.”
Meanwhile, stalwarts of the PDP had earlier weighed the merits of fielding either Jonathan or Obi in 2027
The Guardian learned that a strong lobby made up of high-ranking party chieftains had been mandated to convince Jonathan to return, offering him an automatic ticket.
The move, the report said, was to stem from concerns among entrenched party interests over Obi’s hesitation to fully commit to rejoining the PDP.
Checks by The Guardian revealed that some party chieftains with their sights set on the 2031 presidential election have thrown their weight behind Jonathan, arguing that his eligibility for only one more term, due to the constitutional two-term limit, makes him a safe option for a transitional presidency.
A member of the PDP Board of Trustees, who did not want to be named, told The Guardian that despite Obi’s assurances that he would serve only one term if elected, most party leaders believe Jonathan would bring greater stability.
He said: “Let me tell you straight away, serious efforts are being made to pull Jonathan into the race. From the look of things, our northern colleagues believe that it is necessary to get the former president to come in and complete his second term.
“It is not that the Obi option has been ruled out, but developments in the Labour Party and the coalition make it risky to put all our eggs in one basket. We do not want a situation that could leave the party scratching around to field a strong contender.”
Sources revealed that the feasibility of Jonathan’s return was a key part of discussions among party leaders who recently gathered in The Gambia. The meeting also covered strategies for financing the party and the 2027 election campaign.
